MAN WHO STOLE PASTIES AND QUICHE HANDED 18-MONTH CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE

A Sandown man who stole alcohol, clothes, pasties and even a quiche during a month-long theft spree has been handed an 18-month conditional discharge. Carl Etheridge, 48, of Royal Street in Sandown, admitted 4x theft from a shop when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last week (19th January). On 12th September 2023, Etheridge entered the Co-op store on Sandown High Street and picked up 2 pasties and a quiche – valued at £6.30 – and left the store making no attempts to pay. Then, on 27th September, he entered the Sainsbury’s store just up the road and placed a bottle of Mill Grove wine in his pocket and left the store. He then did the same little over a week later on, on 5th October. Later in the month, Etheridge entered Sports Direct in Newport and took 9 Nike tops off the shelf and attempted to leave the store, the tags and coat-hangers still attached. He was stopped as he attempted to leave. Defending, Barry Keel said that the majority of the items stolen were low value and that Etheridge was struggling with his benefits at the time. In relation to the theft from Sports Direct, it was suggested that Etheridge was ‘pressured’ by someone to commit the crime. The 48-year-old was handed an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £26.60 in compensation.